$100 million spent on New Orleans hospital project

The Times-Picayune examines the initial state costs for the new Charity Hospital. Meanwhile, a proposed hospital sale in Denver continues to bring criticism and the Dallas Morning News looks at the financial health of hospitals in north Texas.

(New Orleans) Times-Picayune: Spending On University Medical Center Project Tops $100 Million
Construction has yet to begin, but state spending on a Charity Hospital replacement has topped $100 million, more than 8 percent of the long-projected $1.2 billion budget. ... The largest portions were for land acquisition ($46.3 million) and architectural-engineering consultants ($43 million) (Barrow, 7/15).

Health Policy Solution (a Colorado news service): Former Board President Challenges Hospital Sale
A former board president and negotiator of the original hospital sale that created the Colorado Health Foundation is warning that the foundation could lose control of $1.45 billion in profits from its current proposed sale of seven hospitals and should cancel the deal. Dick Anderson, who was chairman of the joint venture board that ran the hospitals from 1995 to 2000 ... believes that the original intent of the deal was to protect community assets, not to serve as an investment engine for the Colorado Health Foundation (Kerwin McCrimmon, 7/15).

Dallas Morning News: Local Hospitals Keep Strong Ratings, Despite Industrywide Downgrades
The not-for-profit hospital sector - plagued with government funding cuts, high unemployment and a sluggish economy - faced heavy credit downgrades in the second quarter. But North Texas hospitals have been spared, according to a report Friday from Moody's Investors Service (Roberson, 7/15).